The Arizona Daily Independent offers a variety of views from other Arizona publications. The Arizona Republic published this editorial this week….
Course holds threat of bias
The immutable law of unintended consequences can be especially tough on the ideas of people with really good intentions.
Like the law authorizing a public-school course on the study of the Bible and its influences on Western culture.
Signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Jan Brewer, the “Bible and Its Influence” course is now subject to the interpretation of individual schools and individual instructors.
No doubt some teachers will faithfully follow the course outline as defined by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Terri Proud, R-Tucson, who wishes to assure that a text with such historical importance isn’t ignored in the classroom.
Others surely will use the opportunity of a Bible study class to proselytize, however subtly.
And, despite the expectations of Proud, Gov. Brewer and the Republicans who voted for Proud’s bill, some instructors will teach about the Good Book in wholly unanticipated ways. Like emphasizing the Old Testament’s contradictions and the very politically incorrect behavior of many ancient biblical figures. Or raising doubts about the authenticity of some of the New Testament authorship.
Or perhaps the instructors may choose to teach the Bible as merely another book among many — emphasizing not its centrality to Western culture but just its status as an influential book.
Does the Legislature really want the Bible taught as just another book of stories?
The fact is, neither Terri Proud nor Gov. Brewer will be in that classroom once the door closes.
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